Battle of Talas River. Abbasids defeat the Chinese in Central Asia. A decisive battle which placed Muslim influence and civilization over that of the Chinese in the region.

756

Abd al-Rahman I ad-Dakhil defeats the governor of al-Andalus (southern part of Iberian Peninsula). Establishes the Umayyad Dynasty of Spain with Cordoba as its capital. Construction on the Great Mosque of Cordoba begins.

762

The new city of Baghdad is founded as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

775

Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Mahdi becomes Khalifa. His viziers (high-ranking advisors) are of the Barmakid family, which aid in his peaceful and prosperous reign.

c.776

Jabir ibn Haiyan becomes one of the leading scientists in Kufa while practicing medicine and alchemy. He is also known as the "father of chemistry" for his major works on classifying the elements and testing their properties.

778

Spain. Charlemagne leads an unsuccessful campaign against the Muslims.

785

Musa al-Hadi succeeds his father as Khalifa.

786

Harun al-Rashid becomes Khalifa. His reign is at the height of Abbasid rule. Noted as a munificent patron of arts and letters. Hisham I succeeds Abd al-Rahman I as Emir of Cordoba.

788

The first Shi'ite dynasty, the Idrisid Dynasty, is founded by Idris I. He is the first Arab to rule all of Morocco.

801

The death of Rabi'ah al-Adawiyyah, a noted female Sufi teacher and poet.

803

The fall of the Barmakids, viziers and supporters of the Abbasid Caliphate.

805

Harun al-Rashid establishes a public hospital in Baghdad. A pharmacy is contained within the hospital and its patients are divided into wards. Medical schools utilize the hospital for the teaching of their students. Hospitals soon spread throughout the Islamic world.

809

The death of Harun al-Rashid. Al-Amin becomes khalif upon father's death. Al-Mamun challenges his brother Caliphate.

817

The revolt against al-Hakam I in Cordoba. Part of the population migrates to Fez, creating the city's "Anadalusian quarter."

The musician Ziryab arrives in Cordoba and establishes a grand style and refinement of the arts of living and socializing.

827

The Aghlabids defeat the Byzantines at Sicily. Sicily blooms under Islamic rule. New crops are introduced, such as citrus fruits, cotton and date palms, made possible by new irrigation methods brought in by the new rulers. Other industries also grow, namely silk and papermaking which enters Europe through Sicily.

830

The Bayt al-Hikma (House of Wisdom) is established in Baghdad. Scholars from all cultures and religions were recruited and supported at this academy, where learning and research flourished. The transcription of Greek manuscripts of scientific and philosophical works was one of the most important tasks, without which may have been lost to the modern world. Mohammad al-Khawarizmi, mathematician, astronomer, and geographer, completes "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing." Due to his major contributions to Algebra, he is also known as the "father of Algebra."

831

Palermo is conquered.

833

Al-Mutasim becomes Khalifa upon the death of al-Mamun. He creates an army of Turkish slave-soldiers.

846

Al-Wathiq succeeds his father to the Caliphate. The Turkish armies gain power during his reign.

Musta'in becomes Khalifa. The Turks are in full control of the Caliphate.

866

The Turks select Mu'tazz as the next Khalifa.

869

Al-Muhtadi becomes Khalifa; he is noted as a just and pious ruler during his short reign.

870

Al-Mu'tamid becomes Khalifa upon the assassination of al-Muhtadi by the Turks. Malta is conquered. Arabs introduce irrigation machines to the islands and Maltese language and culture is greatly influenced by Arab rule. The death of Muhammad al-Bukhari; he compiled one of the six canonical collections of hadith (the reported sayings and actions of the Prophet.

871

Ya'qub ibn Layth al-Saffar founds the Saffarid dynasty in Persia.

874

Independent rule of the Samanids in Persia. Native rulers who help renew Persian traditions and language.

c.895

Al-Razi begins to study medicine. He comes to be a renowned physician, mathematician and chemist. He is the first to write an extensive book on medicine, COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON MEDICINE. He discovered sulfuric acid and ethanol and developed its use in medicine. His numerous books greatly influenced European science and medicine.

898

The Zaydi (sect of Shi'ism) State is established in Yemen.

909

The Shi'i Fatimids seize power from the Aghlabids in Tunisia and establish the Fatimid dynasty.

c.920

Mathematician and astronomer al-Battani writes BOOK OF TABLES, a major work on astronomy which includes developments in trigonometry. He is the first to calculate the length of the solar year to the second. His work in astronomy set the foundation for future astronomical observation.

929

The rise of the Hamdanids, they establish independent rule of Syria and Iraq. Great patrons of scholars, poets, philosophers, and historians. Emir of al-Andalus, Abd al-Rahman III, proclaims himself Khalifa, breaking ties with Syrian and Egyptian Caliphates.

The palace city of Medinat az-Zahra is founded at Cordoba by Abd al-Rahman III.

969

The Fatimids take Egypt and establish the new city of Cairo.

969-
1027

The height of Cordoba. Unrivalled achievements and significant advances in medicine, surgery, chemistry, mathematics, philosophy, language, and translation take place in what is believed to be the largest and most sophisticated cultural city in the world.

983

Al-Azhar University, a center for religious and academic learning, is established in Cairo. It is also known as the oldest university in the world.